869 
26 
py 1 






Fully Illustrated 




How to Tell tue Pge of tlie Horse 

Representation of all Blemishes 
Standard Recipes. Etc. 



Practical Hints to Purchasers. 



*• 



HORSEMAN'S 

HANDY BOOK 



Fully Illustrated 



THE AGE OF THE HORSE 
AS INDICATED BY THE TEETH 



A representation of all blemishes 

the horse is heir to, together 

with useful remedies for 

its diseases. 



PRACTICAL HINTS TO PURCHASERS 



r 



3' 



%' 



Two Oopies <<ac«you I 

AUG 251 1905 

COFY 3. 



Copyrighted 1905 
By J. G. KEELER. 

All rights reserved. 



^P H E very practical interest which 
^^ attaches itself to this subject leads us 
to believe that we have in this little book 
something that no horseman, or intending 
purchaser of a horse, can well afford to be 
without. 

As everyone knows, the principal guide 
to the age of the horse, lies in the indica- 
tions given by the teeth. 

From birth to the sixth year the struct- 
ural alterations taking place in the teeth 
each year are so pronounced that there is 
rarely any question as to the age of a horse 
during this period; but, after the mouth is 
fully completed, the age can only be ap- 
proximately determined by the receding 
gums, the effect of wear in altering the 
teeth, and various other such signs. Hence 
after six years old, a correct opinion can 
only be formed by those who have given 
the subject some time, thought and trouble, 
and it is the aim of this book to spare 
you as much of this trouble and time as we 
possibly can by putting the subject before 
you in the most practical light possible. 

Back Teeth, Molars or Grinders. 

These teeth are seldom referred to, 
because their position at the back of the 
mouth renders their examination inconven- 
ient, and often quite difficult. Nevertheless, 
it is useful to be acquainted with the struct- 
ural changes of these teeth in cases where 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 



there may be doubt as to the true age, as 
indicated by the incisors, or front teeth. 

The foal is born with two, sometimes 
three, temporary molars in each jaw. About 
twelve months old another molar, a perma- 
nent tooth, appears and, before the comple- 
tion of the second year, a fifth molar, also 
a permanent tooth, shows itself. About 
two the front temporary molars are replaced 
by permanent teeth, and between three and 
four the remaining, or third temporary mo- 
lar is similarly replaced, and about the same 
time the last, or sixth molar begins to ap- 
pear. Thus, when the mouth is completed, 
there are six permanent molars in each jaw, 
or twenty-four in all. The mouth is com- 
plete at four years old, and these teeth are 
rarely considered in determining age after 
this period. 

Front Teeth, or Incisors. 

The front teeth, or incisors, are six in 
number in each jaw, when the mouth is 
complete; and, in the rear of these, in 
males, there is usually added one very pe- 
culiar pointed tooth on each side in each 
jaw, called a tusk (also bridle teeth). 
Though there are two crops of incisors, 
there is but one of tusks. 

These teeth, though they begin to appear 
at about four years old, are not usually 
fully developed until the last permanent 
incisor is more or less up. 

We shall confine ourselves to the lower 
jaw exclusively, as the structural changes 



horseman's handy book 5 

which take place in the upper, are so 
nearly similar. 

How TO Distinguish between Tempo- 
rary AND Permanent Incisors: Tempo- 
rary, or milk, are easily distinguished from 
permanent incisors by the following well 
marked signs, i. ^., they are smaller, whiter, 
and have more distinct necks. They are 
smooth externally, and grooved on the in- 
side. Their fangs or roots are small and 
have but slight attachment to the gums. 
These teeth are arranged in something like 
a semi-circle. 

The permanent teeth are larger, broader, 
wider in their necks, grooved externally 
and smooth internally, and more discolored 
than milk teeth. 

Temporary, or Milk Incisors. 

The foal is born with his teeth in a rudi- 
mentary state in the gums. At periods 
during the first ten months, the defiferent 
temporary incisors appear. The yearling 
has all six incisors, but several well marked 
signs distinguish his mouth from that of the 
two year old. The teeth at this period show 
but little sign of wear. The corner teeth 
are mere shells, having no inner walls, and 
the teeth are in close apposition. They 
also stand somewhat wide apart at their 
necks because of the gradual growth of the 
jaw in width. (Fig. A). 

The Development of the Permanent 
Teeth : A few months before three years 
old the horse sheds the two center milk 



horseman's handy book 



teeth, which are replaced by permanent. 
Thus the jaw contains, at three years old, 
two center permanent teeth and two milk 
teeth on each side. (Fig. D). 

Two months or so before four, the horse 
sheds the next two milk teeth, which are 
replaced by permanent. The jaw now con- 
tains four permanent and one milk tooth 
on each side. (Fig. E). 

A few months before five, the horse sheds 
the two remaining milk teeth, which are 
replaced by permanent. Now the jaw is 
complete with six permanent incisors, but 
the corner teeth are mere shells, having no 
internal wall. The absence of this wall 
distinguishes the five from the six year old 
mouth. (Fig. F). 

A few months before six, the inner wall 
of the corner teeth has grown up level with 
the outer wall. 

The mouth is now fully complete in 
incisors, and no other siructural changes 
take place in them; and, up to six years 
old, we have seen that by the aid of these 
structural changes there can seldom be any 
doubt as to the age of the animal. 

The Mark, or Infundibulum. 

This is a peculiar hollow extending, when 
the tooth first comes up, about one-half 
inch down the temporary, and somewhat 
deeper down the permanent incisors. The 
sides and bottom of the infundibulum are 
lined by enamel, the same substance cover- 
ing the surface of the tooth. The rest of 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 



the tooth consists of dentine, a substance 
less hard than enamel and more like ivory. 
When an incisor first comes up, the hollow 
affords lodgment for the debris of food and 
the juices expressed from it, and soon looks 
black. As the tooth wears down the hol- 
low disappears, but, the surface of dentine 
immediately below the original hollow, be- 
ing somewhat soft, has become stained for 
some distance down. Thus there is still a 
black mark. With the further wear of the 
tooth, the stained portion of dentine wears 
away, and the "mark" is then said to be 
out. Thus, as may readily be seen, the 
"mark" is constantly changing. In ex- 
plaining the structural changes from foal to 
the sixth year, we said nothing of the 
"mark," not because it had no bearing in 
distinguishing age during that period, but, 
rather because we considered the structural 
changes of much more importance. Be- 
tween three and five years old the " marks " 
are very plain in the permanent incisors. 
(Figs. D, E and F). At six the "marks" 
are wearing out of the two center, which 
come up at three years old ; they are plain 
in the next two, and perfectly fresh in the 
two corner teeth. At seven the "marks" 
have disappeared from the center teeth, are 
wearing out of the next two, and are distinct 
and plain only in the corner teeth. At 
eight the " marks " have disappeared from 
all but the corner teeth, in which they are 
becoming indistinct. At nine the "marks" 
are not usually found in any of the teeth. 



8 horseman's handy book 

For about two years after the "mark" 
has disappeared in each tooth, there may 
still be seen in the form of a star a trace of 
the enamel which lines the bottom of the 
original hollow, and which underlies it for 
some depth. 

The star, of course, decreases in size 
with the wear of the teeth. About twelve 
or thirteen the last traces of the enamel 
have usually disappeared even from the 
corner teeth, but it may remain sometime 
longer. Many casual circumstances, how- 
ever, cause a certain degree of deviation 
from these rules. 

The time which the "mark" takes to 
wear out will vary in different horses ac- 
cording to the hardness, or otherwise, of the 
teeth, and according to the nature of the 
food on which the animal is kept. 

In grass-fed horses the "mark" usually 
remains at least a year, and sometimes two 
years longer than those fed on hard food. 
Again, in parrot-mouthed horses — that is, 
where the upper overlaps the lower jaw — 
the "marks" may remain for many years. 
On the other hand, some horses which have 
a trick of biting the manger, (cribbing) wear 
down their teeth very rapidly and, therefore 
lose their "marks" very early. Horses 
fed on salt marshes where the sea sand is 
washed up among the grass, or on sandy 
plains or meadows, are affected by the in- 
creased friction on the teeth caused by the 
sand. Most of these and other causes of 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 



irregularity of wear which might be men- 
tioned, are at once apparent to a careful and 
accurate observer, and will scarcely prevent 
his forming nearly a correct opinion of the 
age. 

The upper incisors are considerably 
larger and longer than the lower, and the 
infundibulum is nearly twice as deep; the 
"marks," therefore, remain longer than in 
the lower teeth. We mention this in pass- 
ing, lest the reader should be misled if he 
should, by chance, refer to the indications 
given by the upper teeth, to corroborate or 
correct any opinion as to age, about which 
he may be in doubt from the appearance of 
the lower jaw. The mouth, taken as a 
whole, is broader at seven years old than 
at any other period ; after this it gradually 
narrows with age. 

Bishoping. 

"Marks" on the incisors are occasionally 
simulated by means of caustic or hot iron 
by dealers, with the view of deceiving the 
unwary. This fraud is readily detected be- 
cause, though it is easy to make a black 
mark on the crown of the teeth, yet it is 
impossible to restore the wall of pearly 
enamel which, as has been explained, sur- 
rounds the natural " mark," or infundibulum. 

The Fang-hole. Root-hole, or "Secondary 
Mark." 

About nine years old, in consequence of 
the wearing down of the teeth, a slight trace 
of the fang-hole appears, usually in the center 



10 HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 

teeth, and somewhat later in the other teeth. 
It is indicated by a slight discoloration of 
the tooth at the above point. There is, 
however, no actual hole because, with ad- 
vancing years, the upper part of the original 
cavity has become filled up with a sort of 
spurious dentine, which is more yellow than 
the true material, of which the body of the 
tooth consists. As age increases, this indi- 
cation of the fang-hole — which is sometimes 
called the "secondary mark" — becomes 
rather more plain. It, however, affords no 
reliable data by which to judge of the age, 
and is only mentioned in this place lest the 
reader should mistake it for the remains of 
the infundibulum. The enamel, it will be 
remembered, is pearly-white, while the 
mark of the fang-hole is brownish-yellow. 

Further Changes Indicating the Age. 

It will be seen that about nine the 
"marks" entirely fail us, and, indeed, after 
seven or eight they can hardly be said to 
afford any reliable data. From eight years 
old and upwards the best indications of the 
age are given by the general alterations 
which take place in the shape of the teeth 
from wear and in the closing of the mouth. 

Lateral Breadth. Etc. 

The teeth, originally, are broad laterally 
at their upper surfaces, otherwise called their 
crowns, or tables, and thin from front to 
rear. They narrow gradually toward their 
necks and fangs, or roots; hence, as their 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK II 

upper surfaces wear off, the teeth become 
narrower year by year. In very old horses 
there is often a positive interval between the 
teeth, and they appear like sticks in the jaw. 
The amount of wear on the upper surface 
of the teeth is greater in the young mouth 
than it is afterwards because, in youth the 
teeth meet more fairly than in after years. 
It gradually decreases as years increase, 
because, the teeth do not meet so directly, 
but, on the contrary, project more and more 
forward and something like two parallel 
lines. For example, a quarter of an inch 
will usually be worn off the surface between 
five and six years old, whilst, probably, not 
more than that quantity will be worn off 
between twenty and twenty-five years old. 

Triangularity. 

A further very well marked indication of 
increasing age is given by increasing depth 
from front to rear in the upper surfaces, or 
crowns, of the teeth ; further wear causes the 
crowns of the teeth to assume a triangular 
form. The teeth, though they diminish in 
lateral breadth, increase in thickness from 
front to rear all the way from the crown to 
the fang. At six, and up to eight years old, 
the teeth are all broad laterally at their upper 
surfaces. Up to this time the exact year, 
as the reader will recollect, is pretty well 
known by the "marks." At nine, when 
the "marks" fail, the alterations in the 
crown surface or table come to our aid. 
The two center teeth, which come up at 
three, become somewhat triangular; at ten 



12 horseman's handy book 

the two next teeth show similar signs; at 
eleven the corner teeth have become some- 
what triangular; at twelve the triangularity 
has increased in all the teeth. This altera- 
tion continues to increase in all the teeth 
until, in very old horses, the depth from 
front to rear exceeds the lateral width of 
the teeth. 

Length. 

Again, as age increases, the teeth, not- 
withstanding they really wear down, be- 
come apparently longer. This effect is due 
to the fleshy parts of the gums receding 
faster than the teeth wear down. In ex- 
treme age, however, when the gums have 
receded as far as they can, the effect of 
wear causes the teeth to become visibly as 
well as really shorter. 

Slope. 

An alteration also takes place in the 
position, or "slope," of the teeth, as regards 
their closing; this is due to the effect of 
wear. In the original form of the tooth 
its upper portion is nearly perpendicular, 
whilst the lower part lies in a more hori- 
zontal position. Hence, in youth the teeth 
meet directly, whilst in extreme age they 
can scarcely be said to meet at all; their 
stumps project forward in two almost par- 
allel lines. Up to twelve years old there 
can scarcely be much difficulty in forming 
a correct judgment as to the age. 

After that time it requires more time, 
practice and opportunity than most people 



THE FOAL 
A 







HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 1 7 

have at their disposal to obtain the requisite 
knowledge. Suffice it to say, that the gums 
continue, year by year, to recede, the teeth 
becoming apparently longer and longer and 
really narrower, and consequently, the 
intervals between them increase and they 
project forward more and more in a straight 
line. About twenty-four, and in some in- 
stances a good deal sooner, the teeth which, 
up to this period, have apparently increased 
in length, begin to grow visibly shorter, 
because the gums are so far absorbed that 
they can recede no further; hence, all 
further wear shows its effect by diminishing 
the length of the teeth. 

Loss of Circularity. 

In the very young horse the teeth are 
arranged almost in a semi-circle; year by 
year this form decreases, until in old horses 
they are arranged in something like a 
straight line. 

The Tusl(s. 

In horses, as distinguished from mares, 
great assistance in determining the age is 
derived from the presence of tusks, which 
are generally wanting in the latter. The 
tusks usually begin to appear in a very 
slight degree, about three and a half or four 
years old; their sharp points then just 
pierce the gums, and they continue to grow 
until fully developed at about five or five and 
one-half years old. They do not meet like 
other teeth, and, therefore, do not suffer 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 



from wear from that cause. They are af- 
fected, however, from wear in the course of 
mastication and, in fact, undergo greater 
changes than any other teeth, and so form a 
valuable guide as to age. The tusk is a very 
peculiar shaped, elongated tooth; internally 
it consists of dentine, and is protected on 
the outside only by enamel; the enamel, 
however, overlaps the dentine, and hence 
arises the sharp edge or hook of the newly 
developed tusk, which may be felt if the 
finger be brought round it from behind. 
Sharpness gradually wears off; after seven 
it has disappeared, and in each succeeding 
year the tusk becomes, not only rounder 
and blunter, but its upper portion wears off. 
It also appears yellow on account of the 
dentine becoming exposed by reason of the 
enamel wearing off from its exterior surface. 
The tusks, unlike other teeth, do not appa- 
rently increase in length with years, but 
become shorter and shorter; in fact, the 
effect of wear is greater on them than on 
other teeth, and is also greater than the 
process of the receding gums. In very 
old horses the tusk is very little above the 
level of the gums. Mares sometimes have 
four small rudimentary tusks. 

Collateral Circumstances to be Taken 
Into Consideration. 

In judging the age of the horse by the 
teeth every collateral circumstance requires 
to be taken into consideration — such as the 
form of the mouth, the way in which the 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 1 9 

teeth meet and close on each other, the 
food on which the animal has been kept, 
any irregularity in the upper teeth which 
may cause increased or diminished wear on 
the lower teeth, and, also the habits of the 
horse in the stable. The teeth of animals 
which bite at the rack or manger whilst 
being cleaned, invariably present appear- 
ances of wear beyond their real age. 

The body, also, presents many indications 
of the age which may assist us in forming 
an accurate opinion, and sometimes may 
enable us to correct an erroneous impres- 
sion produced by some abnormal appear- 
ance of the teeth. The young horse is 
fleshy about the gums and head, and the 
hollow over the eye is shallow. Year by 
year, as age increases, the gums lose their 
fleshiness, the head becomes more lean and 
the hollow over the eye deepens; the 
shoulders lose much of their thickness and 
become finer and assume an appearance of 
greater length; the hind quarters in like 
manner lose some of their roundness, and 
the animal generally gains an appearance 
of more breeding than he had in his 
younger days ; the back becomes more or 
less hollow, a result partly due to the effect 
of weight, especially in long bodied animals, 
and partly to loss of fleshiness in muscles 
which run along the spine. Again, as the 
horse becomes old, the fullness in the chin 
under the mouth disappears. Lastly, the 
general appearance of the aged horse is 
much influenced by the work he has done 



20 HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 

and the treatment he has received. Age 
must not be judged by any one sign, but 
by an average judiciously struck between 
all the signs, and by a careful consideration 
of all the circumstances. 

From these pages the reader will perceive 
that, after six years old, i. e., after the struct- 
ural changes in the mouth are completed, 
it is impossible to lay down any one single, 
definite rule by which the age can be ascer- 
tained. Still, with a little trouble and 
attention, there is no real difficulty in 
acquiring the knowledge of a horse's age 
up to a comparatively late period of his 
life. Such a knowledge is always valuable 
to an intending purchaser. Horses of eight 
or nine years old are still in their prime; 
but, from want of knowledge of the means 
of ascertaining the real age and from very 
natural distrust of what the owner may tell 
them, the public are shy of buying such 
horses; and, consequently, they may gen- 
erally be obtained far below their real value ^ 

The author is well aware of the popular 
feeHng in favor of young horses; but, in his 
opinion, a moderately aged horse is gen- 
erally a much more useful, presently 
available, and, therefore, more really valu- 
able animal than a young, untried horse 
with all troubles, ailments, diseases, and 
liability to disease, before him. 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 21 



STANDARD RECIPES. 

ALTERATIVE BALL. 

Powdered nitre 4 drams 

Tartarized antimony i dram 

Linseed meal i dram 

Mix. Makes one dose. One each daj' 
for a week. 



ALTERATIVE POWDERS. 

Nitre 4 ounces 

Sulphur 4 ounces 

Black antimony .^ 4 ounces 

Powdered resin 4 ounces 

Mix. Dessert spoonful daily in feed. 



COUGH BALL. 

Powdered digitalis i^ dram 

Powdered camphor i dram 

Tartarized antimony i dram 

Nitre 3 drams 

Linseed meal ^ dram 

Mix. Makes one dose. One a day. 



COLIC MEDICINE. 

Sweet spirits nitre I ounce 

Laudanum i ounce 

Linseed oil 8 ounces 

Mix. Makes one dose. 



22 HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 

CATHARTIC BALL. 

Powdered aloes .^ 6 drams 

Powdered ginger 2 drams 

Mix. Makes one dose. Give fasting. 



COOLING LOTION. 

Sal ammoniac i ounce 

Vinegar i ounce 

Spirits of wine 2 ounces 

Water ^ pint 

Mix. Use twice daily. 



COLIC DRENCH. 

Nitre (spirits) 6 ounces 

Assafoetida 2 ounces 

Laudanum i ounce 

Whiskey i pint 

Warm water i pint 

Mix. Makes one dose. 



FEVER BALL. 

Powdered nitre 4 drams 

Tartarized antimony i dram 

Camphor 2 drams 

Mix. Makes one dose. One a day. 



horseman's handy book 23 

hoof dressing. 

Tar % pound 

Beeswax % pound 

Lard i]4 pounds 

Glycerine 3 ounces 

Melt and mix carefully. 



INDIGESTION POWDERS. 

Arsenic 5 grains 

Sulphate of iron 2 drams 

Nux vomica 10 grains 

Bicarbonate of soda i dram 

Nitrate of potash i dram 

Mix. As one powder, morning and 
evening, for ten days. 



LAXATIVE BALL. 

Powdered aloes 4 drams 

Powdered nitre 2 drams 

Powdered ginger i dram 

Mix. Makes one dose. 



MIXTURE FOR WORMS. 

Oil of turpentine 2 ounces 

Oil of linseed . 10 ounces 

Mix. Makes one dose. Give fasting. 



<?4 HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 

SPRAIN LOTION. 

Alcohol .- 2 ounces 

Acetic acid 2 ounces 

Oil of origanum 2 drams 

Armenian Bole 4 drams 

Water 6 ounces 

Mix. Apply once daily. 



TONIC BALL. 

Powdered sulphate of iron 4 drams 

Camphor i dram 

Gentian i dram 

Mix. Makes one dose. One a day 
for ten days. 



TONIC BALL. 

Sulphate of quinine 20 grains 

Sulphate of iron i dram 

Powdered gentian 2 drams 

Mix. Makes one dose. One daily for 
two weeks. 



WORM BALL. 

Powdered gentian 2 drams 

Powdered quassia 2 drams 

Powdered camphor 2 drams 

Sulphate of iron 2 drams 

Mix. Makes one dose. One each 
day, fasting, for three days. 



HORSEMAN S HANDY BOOK 2 5 



SUGGESTIONS TO THE HORSE BUYER 



A broad, well developed chest suggests 
lung power and a capacity to endure long 
drives. 

Select a horse short between the pastern 
joint and hoof, to avoid ringbone and 
sprains. 

A loose, large hock -joint indicates a ten- 
dency to spavin and thorough pin. 

A narrow forehead, with eys close to- 
gether, indicates a tendency to balkiness 
and bad disposition. 

Select a horse with a heavy tail, as the 
tail is always an indication of the size of 
the back bone, which should be short. 

The strength and endurance of the horse 
depends largely upon well formed quarters, 
short barrel, ribbed close to the hip. 

Roan, bay, in different shades, to brown 
are more noted for endurance, while the 
light chestnut and whites usually have less 
capacity for extraordinary demands. 

A flat, broad forearm, with straight front 
limbs, indicates less danger of becoming 
knee-sprung. 

A broad, open nostril, with a wide 
muzzle, indicates ability to take a large 
supply of air into the lungs, and is a pro- 
tection against heaves and other impairment 
of the horse's wind. 

A broad, well developed hoof at the heel 
is less liable to contract or quarter-crack. 



26 horseman's handy book 



FIGURE OF A HORSE. 

Showing the External Diseases. 



(i) Dental Fistula. (2) Salivara Fistula. 
(3) Mumps, Parotitis. (4) Swelling of 
the Neck. (5) Veinous Fistula. (6) 
Fungus, caused by pressure of the 
harness. (7) Fistulous Withers. (8) 
Injuries caused by pressure of the 
saddle. (9) Rat's-tail. (10) Fungus on 
the knee. (11) Crown-scab. (12, 12) 
Contraction of the Hoof (13) Tumor 
at the point of the Elbow. (14, 14) 
Curb. (15, 21) Malandres. (16) 

Exostosis. (17, 22, 24) Bursal Enlarge- 
ments. (18) Timber-toe. (19) Injury 
from pressure of the girth. (20, 20) 
Warts. (23, 27) Capped Hock. (25) 
Ringbone. (26, 33, 34) Cracked Hoof, 
Sand Crack. (28, 29) Spavin. (30, 31) 
Cracked Heel, Grease. (32) Coronal 
Fistula. 



horseman's handy book 



27 




28 horseman's handy book 



STABLE SUPPLIES FOR ONE HORSE. 



FOR THE HORSE. 

Halters, two — leather and web ;^ 2 oo 

Blankets — day, ;^2.5o; night, ^1.50; 
sheet, $1.50; cooler, $1,7 S) 

roller, $1.50 10 75 

Hood 2 GO 

Bandages — two sets 2 00 

^16 75 

FOR GROOMING. 

Curry-comb, 75; body brush, ^3 __ $3 75 

Dandy brush 50 

Mane comb, 30c.; rub cloths, 60c. _ 90 

Sponge, 50c.; scraper, 25c 75 

Scissors, ;^i.oo; hoof-pick, 30c i 30 

$7 20 

FEEDING, CLEANING, ETC. 

Two-quart measure $ 25 

Pails, two, at 45c 90 

Two forks, $1.25; broom, 50c.; 

shovel, 50c.; stall cleaner, 50c.; 

basket, 25c. 3 00 

Soap 75 

$A 90 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



002 837 458 6 



